New Delhi: Over 15,000 people including the country's top industrialists have launched a signature campaign urging MPs to allow Parliament to transact business.
"Parliamentary protest are not unknown. Parliamentary stalemates can never be permanent. Parliamentary paralysis can lead to weakening of India's democracy. There is a spread of political power between the opposition and the government in Indian Parliament. Both have an important role to play. Both have responsibility to discuss and resolve political issues. Political consensus represents the best practice in Indian democracy," the petition reads.
Industrialists like Rahul Bajaj, Infosys founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, Pawan Munjal of Hero MotoCorp, Adi Godrej, Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, GVK's GV Sanjaya Reddy, GE India head Banmali Agrawala have signed the petition on change.org
"Recent events have been disheartening. They have the potential of eroding popular faith in Parliament. Perpetual disruption can never be the rule. Street demonstrations against the Chair of the Lower House are of unprecedented scale. The Lower house is without some opposition members. The upper house is perpetually adjourned. The importance of uninterrupted legislative function of the Parliament can hardly be over emphasized," the petition further reads.
After change of guard at the Centre in 2014, India Inc expected major initiatives along with forward movement in key sectors like road, power, coal, non-renewable energy.
But the series of disruptions in Parliament since last year, has stalled the growth rate of country. The latest reform stuck in the stand-off with Opposition is the GST Bill.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament has failed to transact business so far. This deadlock prompted the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to launch the campaign.
CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said, "Industry feels that you must let Parliament do its business because the impact goes beyond business and affects the people."
Congress has been demanding resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Lalit Modi controversy and that of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam.
